Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van een burgerhuis onder vuur door Jules Girardet before 1884

Curator: Look at this fascinating photorealistic reproduction nestled within the pages of what appears to be an old book. The artwork, by Jules Girardet, depicts a 'burgerhuis onder vuur' or a townhouse under fire, dating back to before 1884. I’m immediately struck by how this book format seems to offer such an intimate lens onto violence. Editor: My immediate impression is how strange the positioning is. I think that placement draws attention to the materiality of this image – how the image looks printed, aged, reproduced. It lacks a lot of color – there is that sepia-toned world. There are many layers here. I would describe this feeling as the aesthetics of bureaucracy! Curator: Absolutely. The original artwork has seemingly been translated through the printing process onto this page. Its materiality as paper allows it to fold up almost unnoticed. However, there are signs of wear, you can tell it is aged through use. Also notice the presence of fire, which renders violence from a distance. It seems simultaneously chaotic and controlled in this smaller size, doesn't it? It feels quite self-contained, safe. Editor: In terms of the actual buildings being presented here, the architectural components are clearly defined, from what looks like shuttered windows to an almost perfectly placed door. Everything appears organized but also burned! The historical context plays a huge role; what does it mean to look at images depicting such destructive acts of power? How were they disseminated in this medium? Was it used in ways to provoke anger or sadness at the acts of injustice displayed on the photograph, or to demonstrate the power of image making, mass producing violence for private viewing in such formats like journals and diaries. It has to say something about what a newspaper offers a given readership, Curator: Yes! We get this incredibly intimate view through what appears to be domestic reading. And even in today's mass consumption of news, social media posts, television, what is it doing for those who are taking it in to become numb, activated, sad, a combination of everything at once. It's something to continue wondering about. Thank you for your insights today, it gives me pause about not just Girardet's vision, but also the reproduction of it across time to this very moment. Editor: Thanks! Thinking through production really changes the way you look at everything – and consider consumption too! It will make anyone a better reader or viewer.